The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-19
WELAk.A.
.'Our Boys

Correspondence of The Puiatkd Neic~.
WELAKA, FLA. April IL. 1887.
Aswe prophesied, the Amateur ORA
matte Society achieved a grand triumph,
on Friday the 18th, when they presented
the comedy Our Boys" to the largest
audience they have ever played before
The play is difficult one for an amateur
company, as it requires all round, good
acting; every character has distinct
responsibility, and should one fail the
whole play would fall very flat But
the manager assures us that it was with
out the slightest fear that he cast this
play. Three distinct scenes are required,
and on Friday night nothing was left to
the imagination of the audience; three
scenes there Were. And we are IN
formed that to the ladies of the Society
are due the tasteful decorations of the
first two scenes, which, omnibus pdribts,
would compare favorably with any of
have been taken, and greatcreslit is due
to these ladies. The curtain rose upon
the flashily furnished morning room of
of Mr.. Perkyn Mkidlewick, the retired
butterman, where Sir Geoffrey Champ
neys and his sister Clarissa anxiously
await ''Om Boys with their host, whose
''fiutteratiOn" of expectation caused him
to remark ''ain't it o. K.r' The young
gentlemen themselves soon put in an APP
Pearance, and the first act gives good
start to the interest of the piece. 1t may
perhaps be in place to give the cast here,
Sir Geoffrey Champneys, Mr. j. r. Ken
nedy; Talbot Champneys (son); Mr.. c.
o. Gassett; Perkyn Middlewick, Mr.. G..
c. Butler; Charles Middlewick, MFR. Chas
Parry; Kempster, c.. E. Thorne; ViO-
let Melrose, Mrs. c. Z. Thorne; Mary
Melrose, Miss Fiston; Clarissa Champ
neys, Mrs. Winston Stephens: Belinda.
Miss Kate Hotchkin. Mr.. G.. C. Butler
sustained the fun of the piece through
out and proved himself to be- first-rate
comedian; his acting and conception
were nearly perfect for an amateur,
| keeping the house in a roar whenever on
the stage. The ladies without exception
were very good. In fact, we cannot
| single out a single character. for espe-
| cial mention without speaking highly of
everyone.
The makeup was exceptionally good.
| The second scene was very rich and
tasteful being the drawing room in Sir
, GeOffrey's house, and looked brilliant
with three ladies and four men i'm even
ing dress upon the stage at one time. the
ladies' costumes being, Of course. very
handsome. storm of applause and a
| determined recall at the end of the sec
ond act was well deserved. and a mo-
mentary raising of the curtain revealed
the Butterman in his prostration between
rage and grief, wiping his eyes with the
end of large cigar.
The third act and garret scene passed
| off splendidly. and when the curtain fell
at the close of the piece the company
were called before it. and received a
| hearty round of applause. We must not
| forget to make special mention of the
Bell nda of Miss Kate Hotchkin: it was
| as clever a piece of comic acting as it
has ever been our good fortune 50 see.
on any stage. and our experience is not
limited.
The steamer Georgia made a special
| trip down the river for the evening.
bringing large number of people whom
we are sure will come again. IL is a
great pity that such a play as sour
| Boys in such hands should have to be
| content with one night in Putnam
county, when in London. England, it
ran for over fifteen hundred nights.
The Society will give their last play ON
Friday, April 29th. when Box and Cox
| Married and Settled" and AN Ugly
Customer" will be- sure la draw a large
crowd.